The French Revolution - Class 9 Notes
Important Concepts
- The outbreak of the French Revolution
- Changes after the Revolution
- Classes of French Societies
- Facts about Napoleon, the former emperor of France
The French Society during the Late 18th Century
- 1st Estate: Clergy
- 2nd Estate: Nobility
- 3rd Estate: Big businessmen, merchants, court officials, peasants, artisans, landless laborers, servants
- The burden of taxes was mainly on the Third Estate
The Struggle for Survival
- Population growth led to a higher demand for grains
- Widening gap between rich and poor caused subsistence crises
The Growing Middle Class
- Educated with ideas of equality proposed by philosophers like Locke and Rousseau
- Ideas inspired by the American Constitution
- Spread through books, newspapers, and discussions in salons and coffee houses
The Outbreak of the Revolution
- 1774: Louis XVI inherited an empty treasury
- 1789: Estates General convened, Third Estate forms National Assembly, Tennis Court Oath, Bastille stormed, Declaration of the Rights of Man
- 1791: Constitution framed to limit king's powers
- 1792-93: Monarchy abolished, France declared a republic
- 1795: New Constitution, Directorate rules
- 1799: Napoleon rises, ending the revolution
Timeline of the French Revolution
- 1770s-1780s: Economic decline, government debt
- 1789, May 5: Demands for reform
- 1789, July 14: Bastille stormed, Revolution begins
- 1793: Reign of Terror, execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
- 1794: Execution of Robespierre, end of Reign of Terror
- 1799: Napoleon becomes leader
Women's Revolution
- Active participation of women
- Demanded equal pay and political rights
- Formation of political clubs and newspapers
- Women in France gained the right to vote in 1946
The Abolition of Slavery
- Triangular slave trade among Europe, Africa, and America
- 1794: Slavery abolished, reintroduced by Napoleon
- 1848: Final abolition in French colonies
The Revolution and Everyday Life
- Abolition of censorship
- Spread of ideas of liberty and democratic rights across Europe
Napoleon
- Crowned himself emperor in 1804
- Conquered European countries
- Aimed to modernize Europe
- Defeated at Waterloo in 1815
These notes provide a concise summary of the key events and concepts of the French Revolution as discussed in Class 9 History Chapter 1. They include the social structure, significant events, and the impact on society, including the participation of women and the abolition of slavery.